sorry 15 you obviously dont understand the job they perform if you think it is go. stop. go. stop. Maybe if you spoke to someone who is striking you would understand it is go. stop. open door. close door. go. stop. open door. close door.

Well if they didn’t say that and someone tripped on the tracks or got themselves electrocuted then they would be open for liability. That’s all that means- they aren’t actually going to prosecute anyone

Never underestimate the stupidity of people. I don’t see a problem with it anyway. The same rules apply for walking alone other train tracks. Its just the operators covering themselves for people being idiots and them being liable for it.

Strike supporter! You clearly know nothing about it. As a siptu member (not by choice) it’s sickening seeing theses people being backed. A great example of the greed is one Luas worker moaning he only gets €35,000 plus an annual bonus. Oh he took a pay cut to become a fare checker, so god only knows what his salary was as a driver. So siptu are backing people, drivers who get over €35,000 and a bonus. Poor Luas workers.

You clearly aren’t a commuter effected by this. The bus really is not an option for most on strike days as they are now full from the first stop, leading them to drive straight past all the other stops
So yeah id call that a major pain for most people or anyone like myself who isnt in a position to walk, cycle or drive to work. Used to crap like this, but a taxi stuck in traffic with the meter going overtime is actually my only option.

Also taking the nuclear option of striking on St Patricks day is just really deplorable.

I’m not affected by this strike, no but this isn’t the first time there’s been a public transport strike and, iirc, this isn’t the first Luas strike either. There was definitely at least one day I had to organise lifts to my last job in Sandyford because there was no Luas. Did I whine and moan? No. I’m not the centre of the universe. If I have to endure a pain in the hoop getting to work, and that can happen regardless of a driver strike, I will put up with it because not everything is about me. Try and think about other people for a change.

I went to college out in IADT and at one point there was a train strike. My entire commute took six hours, for a single two hour lecture. The next time they decided to strike, I stayed at home. People who have to go to work wouldn’t have that freedom. Frankly, I have to say, I have no sympathy with the luas drivers. Subjecting the people who pay their wage to that poo is not on.

Couldn’t the same easily be said about the Luas drivers? Why are they focusing on their wages and not the general commuter’s convenience? Why can’t they put up with a CPI-linked wage increase instead of striking in order to negotiate one that is potentially 50% or so? It’s a pretty stupid argument you’re making – we all look at things from our own perspectives and make opinions based on that perspective. “Try and think about other people for a change” is the sort of slogan I’d expect from a child. The question is whether repeated strikes from Luas drivers (now at 40% of the working week), significantly inconveniencing the general public, as part of a negotiation looking for 50% pay increases in some circumstances, is a reasonable decision from them, given the protected nature of their industry, the public investment which went into the infrastructure they are using, and the low qualifications they required to get their jobs in the first place. It would seem a very large amount of people do not think it is reasonable. That does not make those people selfish or begrudgers.

When it is the daily users of such a service who suffer, the very people that contribute to the luas drivers pay? I couldn’t give a crap about that one bad commute I had, it was a mere example, btw, but as I said, people depend on these services every day and are the ones who are contributing to the strikers pay. What the drivers are demanding is not garnering any public support for them.

You see, this is where I’m in two minds. They have a right to a fair wage, but there are people who are a LOT worse off who are being put out a LOT by this.

I’m not effected by the strike at all, and I know some people are able to just work around it. however, there are some people who are in dire straights right now, & this is probably the last thing they need.

You know I was thinking you’re just a troll, in which case you entertain me no end and kudos on the commitment to it, but now im thinking you are actually just one of growing number of self righteous people who like to comment on things with an innate belief they’re never wrong on issues that have no effect on them.
Either way keep up the colorful comments

“Your anger should be directed at the greedy and petulant Transdev directors.”

This is the exact same as with Irish Rail. Irish Rail frequently seek prosecution and fines against people walking on the tracks, generally with “health and safety” at the forefront of their thinking. I speak as someone who had to pay 50 quid to the poor box, with the Irish Rail solictiors/barristers arguing for a formal conviction (against me and the other 20 poor souls accused of the same thing) when I jumped down off a platform to take the short cut whilst running to catch a bus to college. So you can call it “greedy and petulant Transdev directors”, or you can try and educate yourself for once on the legal thinking behind it.

Ok, so they also contribute to the cost of the tracks, right? “Luas operator says walking on Dublin tracks is ‘trespass’”

Firstly, that is to try and cover them for liability because someone walking on the tracks they are not allowed on injures themselves, the operators are liable. its the same for all train tracks. Do you think that people should be allowed walk on any train track they want?

“Do you think that people should be allowed walk on any train track they want?”

I think if Transdev are telling people they can’t walk on their private property, the Luas drivers trying to negotiate with them must have had a horrible job and really do have no other choice but striking.

Seriously just stop. I normally like your nonsensical rambling on here but your just talking rubbish now. I can retort all of your bull poo but firstly answer this, The main reason the strike happened was over pay that much we can agree on. Now the argument is they should be on par with other sectors like rail(luas us light rail) and dart drivers ext. That’s where the argument fails. It’s not the same job the same way I work in health(not very high up) but should I get what a consultant is paid because we both look after patients in the health sector?

Actually you ended it yourself by saying the strike doesn’t effect you. Also another commenter made the point of highlighting a Gardas shameful starting salary, yet funnily enough i cant hear your cries of righteous indignation about that.

“I think if Transdev are telling people they can’t walk on their private property, the Luas drivers trying to negotiate with them must have had a horrible job and really do have no other choice but striking.”

You are actually just trolling then. Take a stroll down the dart line. Its your property as well you know.

That is rich. I asked you if you feel that people should be allowed walk down any tracks since the rules apply to all train tracks, to which you replied with “if Transdev are telling people they can’t walk on their private property, the Luas drivers trying to negotiate with them must have had a horrible job and really do have no other choice but striking.” which is an answer to a question I didn’t ask.

The same rules apply to all train tracks. It even states that in the article you posted. You have decided that same rules shouldn’t apply because it suits your argument. Its only a dumb loaded question because you don’t like the answer.

I said I was affected by the last one and the Gards aren’t on strike. Really, it’s not surprising to me that the most vocal opponents of the strike clearly have severely limited intelligence

Not sure what a Gard is, but why does it take industrial action for you to sring to defence of the downtrodden Moyest, surely prevention is better than cure?
And I must have been out of the country for this previous Luas strike. Luas drivers had a no strike clause lifted from the contracts they signed back in 2010, so it was obviously since then, could you enlighten me?
My limited intelligence is a terrible burden, but one with which perhaps you could help Moyest.

As it says in the article: “Whereas it is almost impossible to traverse the city centre without stepping on the rails, the warning is far more likely targeting those who might potter along the suburban lines, possibly as a quiet and direct route in and out of the city.”

Oh, we’re back to that then? Ok. I’ll leave to it then. Anyone who says you cannot walk on any track does so because they are greedy ogres. There is absolutely no other reason as to why such a rule would be in place. None.

here’s something with lots of pictures for you. Should make it easier for you to understand the concept of there being prohibited areas of the Luas tracks which are quite different in nature to Harcourt St. I’ve included a link to the statute backing the prohibition.

LUAS drivers are dead wrong on this. They are currently overpaid for such a simple job in a highly competitive modern economy. They get lots of time off and are not overworked at all. I heard what they get on the Pat Kenny Newstalk show earlier this morning. Its insane! No other employees in the transport industry get close to what they have. Super Cushy!

They are coming across as self entitles greedy gits!

Automated drivers are on the way now I’d say. They have digged their own hole

They might come across like that if you have the really stupid anti worker narrative in your head that they’re just pressing buttons and lucky to be on their current wage. It never ceases to amaze me the amount of turkeys out there that will support Christmas.

Are you crazy?? Did you hear the employment terms that they currently get from the Rep from LUAS on the radio? Did you know that they cannot find examples of ANY Tram drivers across Europe who are paid as generously as the LUAS drivers. Did you know that some SIPTU members are trying to get their friends jobs there because its so cushy, and on the other hand are pretending they are underpaid and right to strike?

Go listen to the radio interview from this morning and stop being an ignorant idiot Moyest

I’m not right wing at all! I’m closer to left of centre on most things actually. I will stick up for underpaid workers suffering injustice at the hands of greedy employers, but there is NONE of that in the case of the LUAS drivers.

Have you seen what they get paid, or their current working conditions?

You must be one of those deluded ultra left wingers who deny reality or facts in order to push their idealogy. How much clearer can this LUAS driver be??

There is NO INJUSTICE! They are wasting everybodies time and affecting other workers. My God, thick as a brick you are Moyest.

“You must be one of those deluded ultra left wingers who deny reality or facts”

You mean how you, *in your last post*, were whining about their demands even though they have publicly stated they’re only starting points for negotiation? Well done. You’ve really done yourself proud.

The point is these guys applied for and accepted employment contracts a few years ago, and have received bonuses and CPI increases since. I presume they weren’t coerced into taking up these contracts? What they’re at now is trying to benchmark to Irish Rail employees (who are obviously overpaid and probably more skilled). Its an irrelevant comparison and a concocted, opportunistic strike, the kind that exposes the more cynical side to trade unions.

I checked out the demands of the employees and although they do not mention the pay increase, the rest of it is bonkers.

I don’t get 27 days off, or double time if I work Saturdays, my maximum hours is in line with the EU regulation. I don’t get free GP care or any paternity leave. They are obviously not comparing their working conditions to the private sector. And when I joined my company I signed a contract that stated all the benefits of my role. I cannot complain now that I do not get enough. If I am unhappy I can either put up with it or move somewhere else.

Some of it seems fair – re parental leave, adoption leave, overtime if they are supposed to be on a rest day (safety etc), bereavement leave (5 days if your husband died and that’s it? Is that normal?). Some of it doesn’t – free GP service for one.

“Safety etc”? How does getting paid overtime make it any safer? Anyway, why overtime rates in the first place? My overtime rate is 0.0. I’m just expected to get the job done on time. I don’t get any extra for working extra hours. Having said that, if they have to work on a rest day then fine, they should be paid. But double time? Where do they think they are, CIE? Time and a quarter was the only overtime rate I’ve ever got, and that was years ago.

sure what would you be doing with 34 days off. You could almost work till the end of October and take the rest of the year off.
And I wont take industrial action. I will move to a new company and have them value my worth based on my experience, before signing a new contract that I am happy with.

RE: being satisfied with your package: If that’s the case why are you complaining about other people trying to improve their own one?

RE: Not being able to find another job: I find your reponse to be a bit short-sighted. There are many reasons beyond “you’re not good enough” that can prevent you moving. Let’s say hypothethically there’s no availible jobs in your sector – but your circumstances have changed and you need overtime or more holidays or patenrity leave. Would you not fight for increased benefits then?

I will say that the only time I’ve had to resort to industrial action was when I worked in a warehouse, which I suppose would be classified as unskilled work. Tesco were dragging their heels on government-mandated rises to the minimum wage, and refused to negotiate with the union. We were left with no other option.

I have yet to see a proper reason as to why they deserve more than inflation. The entry salary is quite high at entry level but I think this is justifiable as they are responsible for everyone on the luas and outside it. However I don’t see that responsibility increasing over time.

I don’t think change in circumstance is a valid reason. That is your business not your employer.

You know what this is probably like actually.
When the teachers went on strike because of the new JC syllabus. The media made it out to be like it was always about pay. Maybe this is the same. I dont know but I hope it is and I have been led down the wrong path. There is obviously more to this. and the drivers are not coming out of this in a great light.
Maybe the problem is that SIPTU are terrible at their job. I know they did very little for the teachers during their strike anyway.

The guy who delivers your pizza. Unskilled worker driving a vehicle. Should he get paid 50-60k a year? Should everyone get paid 50-60k a year minimum, regardless of the justification for that wage? Serious question. Can you not understand that some people view these pay increases, and the industrial action related to their claim, as unjustifiable, and that the view point is not based on some sort of selfish “mé-féin” attitude?

So answer this. Why striking, because a different worker doing a different job is paid more than you, a good thing. Do you even know why the strike is happening and the actual reason being used for justification.

This isn’t a dumb argument. the Luas drivers are starting at 35k and are on up to 45k. They are looking for over 50% increase in wages and benefits which would bring them up to 50-65k. straight out of college you would be lucky to start on 25-30k. To progress you need to gain experience and learn. Almost all jobs with skilled labour require continuous professional development. It is keeping on to of new standards and materials in the building trade to new laws and regulations in business or law. Or the hours they put in in teaching, or medical. You need to prove yourself and show that you are more valuable to a company/business to progress.

Can you say that someone with 10 years experience is worth 50% more then someone with 1 years experience? what differentiates the role preformed by someone with 10 years and someone with 2?

They are looking for *up to* 50% for *some* employees and have *publicly stated* that demand is a starting point in negotiating and they’re prepared to take less. The point is Transdev *won’t even negotiate*. Jesus. Have *any* of you actually read *anything* about this or is it just “Durrrr, unions are bad, durrrr” or “No fair. Waaaaah. I don’t get that money. Waaaah.”?

You said that transdev wont even negotiate but they have clearly stated (according to the siptu website) that “Management representatives have instead merely continued to reiterate the position that our members cannot expect to receive pay rises over the next five years and that any rise that might be granted would be limited to an increase in the Consumer Price Index.”
And this is line with what I asked. Is there a difference in the role of someone who is there 2 years and someone who is there 10 years? If the answer is yes then they should get a raise. If those their longer take on extra responsibility then they should be compensated.
If the answer is no they do the same job, then they do no deserve a raise. Two people doing the same job should get the same pay. That is fair.

And of course if the unions start out with 50% increase for some as a starting point they are going to be ridiculed. and people are going to have no faith in them.

There’s a bus that goes from Bride’s Glen to Heuston Station, via Stephen’s Green. It’s about as frequent as the luas.

I got it into work today, and both days of the luas strike last week. In all cases it did fill up at Heuston, but was at least 50% empty by the time it reached Stephen’s Green. It took maybe 5 minutes longer than the Luas to get out all three days.

The #44 goes by my house in Balally. It usually has around 15-20 people on it when it goes by my stop at 7.05am. Think a double decker bus can hold 120 people or so. It was completely full when it got to my stop and therefore did not stop, and it would have been busier again were it not for the mid term break. It is a minimum 20 min walk to the next alternative bus service, or a two mile drive to somewhere with a mix of parking and a suitable bus service. This was not the end of the world, but I also don’t think this is something i should have to deal with 40% of each week for the foreseeable future. I don’t think i should be accused of being a begrudger or mé-féiner for not being happy with this situation.

Comments disabled on SIPTU’s very expensive looking video. I’m sure it was supposed to get the public on side and get some sympathy for these greedy scumbags, but SIPTU obviously dont want any other voices heard, because it would obviously bring to light the disgust most people feel towards the union and the workers.

Im sure Moyest will be along here with his left wing social utopia to peddle, where people have the right to simply make up how much they think they should get paid and instead of getting another job that either pays better, or adjusting their lifestyle to suit their pay they can hold an entire city to ransom.

I’ll save you the argument Moyest, because i wont be engaging with you today, I’m far too busy earning the same as a Luas driver, only I do a highly skilled job that required more than 7 weeks training

This is the most ridiculous industrial action in the history of the state. Anyone supporting this is an unqualified idiot. (Yes, thats a direct attack on Moyest).

I feel very very sorry for the hordes of people who will be made unemployed by the efforts of the Mountain View engineers at google, but self driving tech cannot come soon enough to shut these greedy people up.

Yes, this. Ol’ Moyest can’t see that his carry-on only hardens the attitudes of people who disagree, and even those who might occasionally agree (including me) feel the urge to mutate into Alf Garnett just to spite him.

Moyes, you really are up yourself, spouting utter drivel trying to make yourself sound intelligent and witty whilst trying to put others down. Pipe down you hippy. Weve all heard enough fom you. Get back to your mundane job and give us all a break.

As i said earlier i normally like the nonsensical funny poo that moyes spouts, but today it’s just completely irrational poo. Not one question I put to moyes has been answered. It sums up the level of contribution from moyes today; talk poo answer anyone who falls for the trolling and answer no one who post a rational question.